Painless nosebleed post-dive

[jagfish]

I know that squeezes and reverse squeezes can cause nose bleeds...

However, a diver this weekend had a nose bleed upon surfacing and did not feel any sense of pain or pressure at all on ascent, and it was an acceptable asent rate following a fairly shallow dive (like 30 ft max). She says that she is not normally prone to nose bleeds.

Can a reverse squeeze cause this and not be painful?

JAG

 

[ReneeC]

I would like to jump into your question since I was going to post a similar. Been getting nosebleeds recently although I'm not having any trouble equalizing and been taking my sweet time coming up. I'm a DM though and the rapid decents obviously have something to do with it. Anyone out there have an opinion?

 

[MikeFerrara]

I would like to jump into your question since I was going to post a similar. Been getting nosebleeds recently although I'm not having any trouble equalizing and been taking my sweet time coming up. I'm a DM though and the rapid decents obviously have something to do with it. Anyone out there have an opinion?

It's possible to have a sinus squeeze or reverse even when your ears are equalizing fine.

I've seen plenty of bloody noses where the diver claimed to not have any pain during the dive.

My non-medical pro opinion is that it could be pressure related (blocked sinuses) or something else like the abuse ones nose can take during a dive (all the pinching and pulling)

Sinus problems after diving sometimes result in a bloody discharge when the nose is blown rather than just a bloody nose.

Again these are just my own observations rather than a diagnosis. If I was getting a blody nose or bloody discharge I'd have a doc have a look at it.

When it happens to students I insist on it prior to any further diving.

 

[Bill H]

It's possible to have a sinus squeeze or reverse even when your ears are equalizing fine.

I concur that, in my own non-medical opinion, the discharge can be a result of sinus squeeze.

I was informed by an Instructor several years ago that even if congestion is not noticable before a dive, it can interfere with the ability to clear the sinuses upon ascent (a reverse squeeze). I took this as good news, as it was a bit disconcerting to find blood in my mask several times after surfacing on successive days. I might suggest, however, that if it becomes cronic, it would be good idea to have it checked out.

 

[ReneeC]

Thanks for the input. Think I will have it checked out by an ENT. Just surprising for me since I don't seem to be having any noticable sinus issues before or after the dives. Just one of those strange things that comes on us I quess.

I'll let you know what the doc says.

 

[divingcat]

I am instructor and sometimes nose bleeding happens with my students even after shallow dives without any problems with equalizing.
Usually it happens with young women.

 

[miketsp]

It can be just the dry air. I regularly suffer from nose-bleeds after spending some time in strong air conditioning. Same problem on long haul flights, after about 10 hours if I blow my nose it always provokes copious bleeding. No pain associated, bleeding stops after 2 -3 mins. I consulted a couple of specialists & both said the same same thing, that they could cauterise the sensitive region, it was up to me to decide if it was worth doing. So far I prefer to live with it. It worries other people much more than me.